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That’s a really intense release statement from the xE PR manager. I guess that it speaks to how difficult it is to create beautiful but accurate environmentals.
this looks cool
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I have to say, that looks very impressive.
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I’m not sure it’s $70 + tax impressive!
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Plus I wonder if it’ll survive the Vulcan graphics upgrade that is meant to be before XP 12. Laminar have been telling anyone that’ll listen that the shaders and internal assets aren’t going to be carried forward.
Mind you, even 6 months of good looking weather would be worth it, the default is pretty poor.
If you consider Active Sky and FSGRW are both $40ish, and then you add an environmental effects package for better clouds and lighting etc such as Ultra Weather XP, which is about $35 if memory serves, then XEnviro’s price point is actually in line with the others.
It is sure lot of money. I mean it was lot of money imo.
Now I see the latest updates with all the clouds in 3D ( = no 2D textures ) and I say ’ wow I should consider this '.
All the other utilities, which depicts the clouds using 2D textures, don’t cut it for me. So in fact I am OK with the default XP clouds as they seems to me mostly 3D.
And yeah it will be real fail if with Vulcan this is all gone.
I think like you Paul, I bought xE when it originally released. But I was having some stability issues in XP11, so uninstalled it. I would like to try it again and hoping that we won’t be charged for the new release, since the original was a bit buggy.
I think it is a free update. I made the switch to other weather solutions after XEnviro seemed to be going backwards, but this update seems to be making a step or two forwards. The depiction of clouds might not be 100%, but I like the vertical development you see in the videos. Also, the fact that the weather actually moves and is not static.
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I just check my Org Store account and xE 1.10 was available for download.
Here is a little xEnviro volumetric test video (that probably hasn’t fully rendered yet). I departed from KPDK to the south in the Aerobask Diamond DA62. I should have videoed switching from the default weather rendering to xE. Next time. I will say that it was dramatic and went from looking like a sim to real weather. I wanted to see how it looked at a distance and when climbing through the clouds. IMO, the biggest negative here is the grain, which is really evident when passing through the clouds. However, overall I’ll take it when compared to any other WX renderer that I’ve seen, including the latest SkyMax Pro.
A more thorough look at xE…
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That looks pretty awesome. I am really tempted to get it but I really need to wait to see what X-Plane does with Vulcan and how these add-ons cope 
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Yeah, I don’t blame you Fridge. I was an early adopter back in 2017, so my only investment was the time to uninstall Sky Max Pro, and install XE. It will be interesting to watch though.
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Dan, do you know if XP11 is still taking the weather injection from ActiveSky or switching to XEnviro’s injector. I seem to remember that XEnviro didn’t allow historical weather, which would suggest it uses it’s own injector. After watching your video, I will definitely be giving XEnviro another whirl because it looks very realistic to my eye (despite the grain you mentioned)…
I was referring to the old manual and it looks like you are correct Paul. The current manual is online.
Concerning compatibility per the manual:
VERY IMPORTANT
xEnviro is not compatible with any software, plugin or script that change X-Plane weather parameters,
atmosphere parameters, sky colors, scattering, lights and light parameters. Such software shall be
disabled or uninstalled prior of using xEnviro otherwise correct operation of xEnviro cannot be guaranteed.
List of known incompatible software
SkyMaxx Pro
RealWX Pro
Ultra Weather XP
Active Sky XP
xVision
FSEnhancer
MaxxFx
Real Weather Connector
SoundMaxx
FS Global Real Weather
xNoaaWeather
FlyWithLua RTH script
VenturaSky
It is a shame that XEnviro doesn’t let you use FSGRW or ActiveSky. My main reason for wanting this is that both of the above have a lot more data points for over the ocean, when compared to the stock weather system. These extra data points make a big difference when conducting Oceanic flights based on a navlog generated by SkyVector or similar.
I found that you could be quite accurate with your dead reckoning when using those injectors. I don’t know how well XEnviro models the weather over large bodies of water with extrapolated wind data. It may well be that it uses exactly the same information.
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Looks awesome.
I almost don’t dare to ask…
Is it only visual or do those clouds have thermals and stuff?
Wow - here is an interesting free (donation?) ware airport by Lebor Simulations - Beirut, Lebanon (OLBA). It looks fantastic. The notes caution that a lot of libraries are required…so keep that in mind.
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So it looks like Carenado has updated their X-Plane 11 version of the Pilatus PC-12 to fix some issues associated with XP 11.30. I haven’t flown the PC-12 in a long time because I had the old XP10 version that didn’t really work right in XP11. With this new update, I’ll probably pick it up in the next .ORG sale or Carenado site sale…
List of 1.3 changes:
List of changes:
- More sound improvements: Fire Test, wind sound, doors sounds, etc.
- Corrected gear speed Vlo in the .acf
- Fixed “Endurance” display calculation
- Fixed rapid clicking noise when HSI CDI is in GPS mode
- Multiple flight model adjustments for XP11.30
- Improved crosswind taxi, takeoff, and landing ability
- Fixed autopilot servos coming on when engaging an AP mode
- EHSI: Added wind vector arrow and speed
- Updated vrconfig file
- Moved sun visor default position so it doesn’t block the overhead buttons
- Fixed overhead amps indication spillover
- Sounds: Decreased interior engine volume
- Updated RealityXP.GTN.ini file
- Increased battery capacity
While we are at it, the B1900D X-Plane 11 version has been updated to version 1.2 with the following changes:
- Disabled hydraulic brakes option (to ensure brakes work properly when engines are off)
- Cleanup of EHSI bearing pointer fix
- Disabled some v10 compatibility stuff
- Fixed some annunciator lights
- Improved autopilot heading
- Increased battery capacity and generators
- Improved lighting for v11
- Adjusted prop feathering at startup
- Adjusted nose wheel steering animation
- Updated de-icing logic
- Adjusted min N1% for start
- Fixed throttles and DC load needles
- Disabled artificial stability
- Adapted for VR
- Brightened taxi and landing lights
- Tuned elevator effectiveness.
Nice to see the GTN750 changes/updates, and also they are addressing some of the VR issues in both models. Be aware that I see some reports that the VR updates to the 1.3 version of the PC-12 didn’t fix some issues:
“I’m unable to operate buttons on the autopilot and audio panel with the VR controllers. If you select the autopilot, the unit’s face plate turns green, but the buttons are untouchable. You can click the face plate and the autopilot pops up outside the VR environment, then you can raise your HMD and operate the autopilot with your mouse.”
The developer is aware of the problem and has duplicated it. As a temporary workaround, you can use the mouse cursor to do those functions.
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